On May 11, 2021, the Center for Movement Challenges (CFMC)™ proudly joined the family of Walter and Estelle Strauss, including their daughters Sandra Steinbook and Michelle Schwartz, to honor their parents by naming the Walter and Estelle Strauss Wellness Center. The event was a heartfelt gathering of family, friends, and the community.
To Sandra and Michelle, their parents were shining examples of resilience, kindness, and generosity. Walter and Estelle embodied the values of treating everyone with dignity, overcoming adversity, and helping those in need. Sandra and Michelle hope that their parents' legacy will inspire others facing challenges in their own lives.
After discovering the transformative benefits of the LDBF Boxing for Parkinson’s program, Sandra and Michelle wished their father had access to such a remarkable exercise initiative during his life, as it could have profoundly improved his journey with Parkinson’s.
Walter’s story is one of courage and triumph. Born in Alsfeld, Germany, in 1923, he fled the Nazis at just 13 years old, arriving in Bluefield, West Virginia, with no possessions or money, thanks to a sponsor in the United States. His parents, Albert and Martha, and his brother, Henry, escaped to freedom in Africa, but his sister, Hana Lore, tragically perished in a Nazi concentration camp in Poland.
After settling in Atlanta, Walter completed high school and enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, where he excelled as a translator of German. Upon returning to Atlanta, he founded Walter’s Clothing in 1952, a men’s and boys’ store located at 66 Decatur Street in Downtown Atlanta. The store’s iconic red and white awning has stood as a landmark ever since.
Walter was celebrated for treating everyone who entered his store equally, whether they were Atlanta sports and music celebrities or everyday customers. Known as the godfather of the sneaker world, he became an icon in Atlanta’s business community.
Estelle, born and raised in Atlanta, was equally remarkable. She devoted her career to teaching and mentoring in the public school system and was instrumental in helping Walter build the success of Walter’s Clothing.
Walter passed away peacefully on July 5, 2018, at the age of 94. Just a year later, Estelle, his beloved wife of 64 years, followed on August 15, 2019, at the age of 87. They are lovingly remembered by their daughters, Sandra Strauss Steinbook and Michelle Schwartz, as well as their grandchildren, Sandra’s sons Brandon and Mitchell Steinbook.
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